The objective of present research study was to assess the concentration of pesticide residues in fruits
and vegetables from markets in Kumasi and to generate awareness about the lethal effects of these pesticides
on human beings as well as to estimate the potential health risks associated with the pesticide residue with
regard to consumers. A total of 350 locally produced fruits and vegetables were purchased from six main
markets in Kumasi and analyzed by gas chromatography equipped with electron capture detector for
organochlorine (gamma-HCH, methoxychlor, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, p,pí-DDE, p,pí-DDT) and pyrethroid
(permethrin, cyfluthrin, cypermethrin, fenvalerate, deltamethrin) residues. The residual concentrations of
selected pesticides in the various fruit and vegetable samples and the potential health risks associated with the
exposure to these pesticides were also assessed. The results obtained showed that 37.5% of the fruit and
vegetable samples analyzed contained no detectable level of the monitored pesticides, 19.0% of the samples
gave results with levels of insecticides residues above the MRL, while 43.5% of the samples showed results
below the MRL. The analysis of health risk estimates revealed that none of the pesticides exceeded the
reference dose in both fruit and vegetables except endrin which exceeded reference dose in vegetables,
suggesting a great potential for systemic toxicity in children considered the most vulnerable population
subgroup. Based on observations made in these studies, it is proposed that more extensive monitoring
investigation covering all fruits and vegetables in all the ten regions of Ghana be carried out to find the exact
position of pesticide residues.